Maneuvering- valve mechanism for ship-turbines



. H. RICE.

MANEuvEmNG vALvE MEcHANlsM For: SHIP -uRB|NEs.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. |919.

His oqttorney.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEo RICHARD ,I-I. RICE, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MANEUVERING VALVE MECHAN ISM FOR SHIP-TURBINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

Application filed January 30, 1919. Serial No. 274,099.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD H. RICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Maneuvering Valve Mechanisms for Ship-Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to valve mechanism for ship propelling turbines whereby the vessel may be controlled as to speed both in going forward and astern.

The invention comprises a novel arrangement of parts whereby a single handle suffices for controlling the entire forward and reversing operations, said parts being so arranged that it is impossible for the engineer to manipulate the valves except according to 'a definite and predetermined plan, thus avoiding all danger of mistakes in operation due to any cause whatsoever.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying description and claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates an embodiment of my invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a turbine with certain of the parts broken away to illustrate the internal parts; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the turbine looking aft; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the principal controlling valves; Fig. 1 is a section on line 4-1 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail of a part of the valve actuating means for the high speed or main turbine element; Fig. G is a similar detail of the valve actuating means of the cruising turbine element, and Fig. 7 is a diagram indicating the movements of the principal controlling valves.

The turbine can be varied in design to suit the conditions, and the elements may be all in a single casing or in two or more casings. As shown, the turbine comprises an auxiliary or cruising element 10, in this case having a single stage containing a wheel 11 having two rows of buckets and coperating with the nozzles 12 and intermediate buckets 13 to extract energy from the steam. Following this andl in the same casing is a main or high speed turbine or turbine element 11i comprising in this case three stages, the first having a wheel with two rows of wheel buckets and the others each a wheel with a single row. Cooperating nozzles are provided for said stages which are generally similar to the nozzles 12 but annular in form instead of' segmental. The exhaust from the last wheel discharges into the exhaust chamber 15 in the casing from which it flows to a condenser (not shown). In the exhaust chamber is mounted a reversing element, comprising in this case a single wheel 16', having two rows of buckets with which are associated the usual nozzles and intermediate buckets. The nozzles and intermediates are generally similar to those in the forward driving parts of the turbine but are differently positioned to produce rotation in the opposite direction. All of the wheels are mounted on the main shaft 17 carried in suitable bearings attached to or forming a part of the casing 18. The propeller, not shown, is coupled to the rear end of the shaft, the right hand end in Fig. 1.

In considering the arrangement and operation of the valve mechanism it should be remembered that for cruising speeds the steam or other elastic fluid flows through all of the forward driving elements, and for reversing or going astern through the reversing element only.

On the starboard side of the turbine looking aft is located the main valve chest 19. In it are a cruising valve 20, a high speed valve 21 and a reversing valve 22. The valves are mounted in the same valve casing or chest 19 which makes for simplicity of construction, there heilig a supply chamber 23 running the full length thereof in the upper part. rI`here are also formed in the chest and extending at right angles thereto chambers and passages leading to the turbine. Valves 20 and 21 each have two such chambers or passages 24 and 25 respectively. The passages in the case of cruising valve 2O are located in conduit 26, Fig. 1 and of the main valve in the conduit 27.

The reversing valve has a single chamber or passage 28, which communicates by the conduit 29, Fig. 1, with a conduit and supply chamber 30 in the exhaust head.

The cruising valve 2O has two seats and two cylindrical valve members 31 and each valve member has a lifter which comprises three or more guide arms or wings 31 fastened on the valve stem 32. Wings 31 form valve centers which move within cylindrical valve members 31 and have projections 31" members 31 when the stem 32 is moved downward. The. valve seats are formed in'a cage 33 which is introduced into the chest or rcasing 19 from the top. The portion of the casing under valve 2O is. closed by a suitable head 20a.v Above valve cage 33 and fitting into it is a head 34bolted to the casing and through which the valve stein extends. Rising from head 34 is a. frame or housingy 35 more or lesstubular inform and open at its upper end. The highspeed valve 21 is similar' in construction to cruising valve 2O andthe reversing VTvalve 22 is likewise similar. to it except that Vit has only one se`at and one valve member. .32a and 32b indicate the stems of ytliehighfspeed and the reversing valves respectively, land 352L and 3510 their frames or housings. In housings 35,- 352l and 35b are bearings for the horizontal valve aci tuating shaft 36 which is rocked to and fio by means to be described later. On the left hand end of shaft 36 is keyed a,y crank 37 having a crank pin 37?L located in a block that slides in a yoke-38, Fig. G. vThe yoke is suitably guided for'verticalmovements by housing 35 and has conne'ctedto it the upper end of valve stem As the crank pin movesv across'the yoke Fig. 6 from oneextreme angularfposition tothe other it first opens .the cruising valve and .then closes it. The stein 32aM of high speed valve 21vis fastened to a yoke 39, through Vwhich extends a pin 39acarried by the ends of two cranks 39b which:are keyed to shaft.v 36. As shown in Fig. 5 yoke 39 V moves in vertical guides carried 'by housing 35a. The stem 32b of reversing valve-.22 is fastened lto a yoke 40 similar in construction and arrangement to yoke. 39 and through which extends a pin 40a carried by the ends of two cranks 401. which arekeyed to shaft 36. Cranks 40b proj ectdownward from shaft 36 onthesame side of thevertical axis as do cranks39b but they make a .slightly greater anglel with the vertical as is clear fromFig,` 3.', j v

ATo actua'tel rock-shaft 36 a worm segment 471,V F i'g..4,.is" keyed thereon which meshes with a worm 42 on the lower end of vertical shaft .43. Gn the upper end of shaft 43 is -a spiral,gearwheelf44 meshing with a similar gear on the operating shaft 45. The latter shaft extends forward, is mounted in suitable bearings, and has a hand wheel146 secured thereto. rHandwheel 46 has alocking latch 47 which enters slots between teethon a stationary disk 48. Mounted onthe'up-V per end-of. the housing of the cruising valve is a support carrying a fixed dial 49 having suitable data thereon. Coperating with the vbine element.

dial is a pointer 50 carried by rock-shaft 36 l so that the engineer can always determine Y by a comparison of the pointer 'and dial, which valve is active and the position thereof.

Referring again to the turbine the cruising element 10is cut off from the adjacent sta e of the main turbine element 14, by a solid diaphragm 51. To permit steam to pass from the cruising turbine element to the main turbine element a by-pass con-. duit 52 is provided whichleads from^the casingfof the cruising turbine element to vthe nozzles vof the .first stage of the main tur- In conduit 52 is located an automatically acting check Vvalve 53, Fig.`2, of any suitable .construction which opens to.- ward'the iirststa-ge ofthe main turbine Velement and permitssteam to 'flowffrom the' cruising turbine element to the main turbine element but, prevents the flow of steam in the opposite direction. Due to this arrangement when cruising valve 20 is open and high speed valve 21 is closed steam flows through all of the forward driving stages in series, i.' c., through ythecruising turbine element 10, n and' then through themain turbine element 1,4. On the other hand when valve 2O is closed' and valve 21l is` open the steam then flows. through the forward driving stages of they main turbine element only. v

To reduce the rotation losses in the cruising element' 10 when it is idle, a vacuum valve-54'is provided which is positively ac tuated. The valve. is on the right hand side of the machine and its stem is connected by suitable leversand a rod 55 to alever 56.

mounted on the rock shaft 36;V The position ofthe parts for actuating vacuum valve 54,` Y as shownfm Fig. v2, issuch that during cer-` tain portions oftheangular movement of the rock-shaft practically no movement takes place. This is due to the fact tliat'small angular movement 0f the lever 56 from its off or. neutral position, Fig. 2, will not appreciably move` the rod 55. One side of vacuum valve 5.4 is connected toV some part ofthe turbine where a vacuum exists, .as for example, to the exhaust chamber by conduit 5.7, shown in Figs. landy 2. vThe other side of valve 54 isA connected by the lconduit 58- tothe casing-ofth'e cruising turbine element-10.l The arrangementI is such that when the vcruising valve 20 isclosed vacuum valve. 54 is openl and thevacuum connection is established. The valve mechanism is preferably so timed or. adjusted that the' vacuum valve opensl slightly in advance of the complete closure of the cruising valve20.

W'here. steam driven non-condensing auxiliaries are used in;connection with the tur bine` installation,- it. is .importanti to conserve theA exhaust steam fromthe Vsame and make main turbine element 14 and in conduit 60 is located a valve 61 which is similar in construction and operation to the reversing valve 22, for example, and is operated in the same manner. It is located on the left hand side of the turbine and motion from hand wheel 4:6 and rock-shaft 36 is transmitted to it by the rods 62 and associated levers. The arrangement is such that valve G1 is open whenever either cruising valve 2O or high speed valve 21 is open'but is closed when reversing valve 22 is open. This latter is necessary because steam admitted through valve 61 tends to drive the turbines forward and hence in opposition to the direction in which it is driven by steam admitted through reversing valve 22. To take care oit' the exhaust steam supplied by the auxiliaries to conduit 60 during this brief period an ordinary atmospheric relief valve (not shown) may be inserted in conduit 60.

The operation is as follows :-Assume that the turbine is idle and the hand wheel 46 is in stop position so valves 20, 21 and 22 are closed. This will be indicated by pointer 50 and dial 49. The angular relation of the three cranks 37, 39" and 40" which operate valves 20, 21 and 22 are as indicated in Fig. 7 by the heavy lines designated 37, 39b and 4Gb. These are the positions of the cranks when the valves are in the positions indicated in Fig. 3. j In the case of the cruising valve 20, the valve lifter is so positioned that `the projections 31" on the upper wings 31 are against the upper valve members and the projections on the lower wings 31a are spaced slightly from the lower valve member. It will thus be seen that an upward movement of stem 32 which would be occasioned by turning shaft 3G in a counter clockwise direction as viewed from the lei-'t hand end in Fig. 3, would open cruising valve 20 while a movement in the opposite direction would merely move the valve litters down through the center of the valve leaving the valve closed. In the case of high speed valve 21, thelifting projections on the valve litters for both valve members are spacedl therefrom so that a limited movement of stem 32a up or a movement of it down will produce no movement of valve 21. In the case of reversing valve 22 the valve lifter is'positioned with its projections against the valve member so an upward movement of stem 32b will open it while a downward movement will move the lifter away from the valve member. As will be seen from thediagram Fig. 7 an upward movement of stem 32bwould be occasioned by a turning of shaft 36 ina clockwise direction. Vhen shaft 36 is turned in a counter clockwise direction reversing valve 22 will remain closed, the valve litter moving downward away from the valve member.

It new it is desired to operate the turbine in a 'forward direction, hand wheel 46 lis moved in a counter clockwise direction which results in moving cranks 37, 39" and 4:0" in such direction. Crank 37 will begin to move through the arc indicated A--B in Fig. 7 and when it reaches the point a, the highest )oint on are A-B, the cruising valve 2O wil have been fully opened which will give the highest cruising speed. The valve G1 for admitting-exhaust steam 'from the auxiliaries will also be opened but the vacuum valves 5ft will remain closed. The steam trom valve 2() passes through the cruising turbine and then through the main turbine as is well understood the steam trom the one to the other passing through conduit 52. Il a still greater speed desired it is necessary to cut oit the admission ot steam to the cruising turbine and admit steam directly to the main turbine so that cruising valve 20 must now be closed and high speed valve 21 opened. A 'further movement of hand wheel 1G in a counter clockwise direction will move crank 37 beyond point a., Fig. 7, so stem 32 will begin to be lowered and valve 20 to move toward closed position. At the point B valve 20 will be closed. In the meantime crank 39" will have moved across the arc C-D and about the time it reaches point D the valve litters on stem 32 will begin to open valve 21. and in moving from D to E such valve will be fully opened. Although any desired arrangement can obviously be utilized the arrangement is preferably such that high speed valve 21 will begin to open just prior to the complete closing of cruising valve 20, that is the opening and closing movement oi' the two valves is carried out serially but overlap each other somewhat. After or about the time valve 20 is fully closed, vacuum valve 54 will be opened so the casing of the cruising turbine element 10 will be connected to vacuum. Valve 61 will remain open. During the opening movement oi high speed valve 21, the crank 37 ot cruising valve 2O will simply move on beyond point B, Fie'. 7, lowering stem 32 and moving the litters down away from the valve members. In the case of reversing valve 22, during the movements just described its crank 40h will have moved tln-ough an arc at the bottom of the circle in Fig. 7, stem 32" heilig first lowered and then raised again. The arrangement is such however, that valve 22 will not be opened.

It now it is desired to drive the turbine in the reverse direction it is first necessary to bring the hand wheel 1G back to stop posi` tion which is done by turning the hand wheel in a clockwise direction and after it has reached such position valves 2O and 21 will be closed and the lifter for valve 22 will be brought into engagement, with its valve member. A further movement of hand Y closed.

It will thusbe seen that with my improved arrangement the entire maneuvering of the ship is controlled in a simple manner by a single hand wheel, and that it is not possible for the operator to operate the valves in a wrong sequence.

In accordance with the provisions of th patent statutes, I have described the principle offoperation of my invention, togetherwith the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood -that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the'invention can be carried out by other means. Y

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l.y An elastic fluid turb-ine having elements arranged to develop different outputs at the shaft, and a reversing element, in combination with a controlling valve means foreach of the said elements, and an actuating device which is common to all of said means and is so arranged that when moved in oney direction from a given position it causesV the valve means to admit motive fiuid to the first mentioned elements in succession and When moved in another direction it causes the valve means toy admit motive Huid to the reversing element only.

2. An elastic fluid turbine having two elements arranged to cause rotationv of the shaft in one direction and a third element arranged to cause rotation of the shaft in the reverse direction, in combination with a controlling valve-means for each element, and an actuating device which whenmoved in one direction from a given position first actuates the valve means in a manner to connect the first two said elements in g series and then on further movement in the same directiony tocut out the first element and supply motive fluid Vto the second of said elements only, and when moved in the opposite direction from said position, actuatesY the valve means ofsaid reversing element.

3.An elastic fluid turbine having elements.V arranged to drive the shaft forward,

andan element arranged to drive the shaft in the' reverse direction, in combination with independent controlling` valve means for said elements, a valve'which permits lmotive fluid to flow from one element to another but prevents it from flowing in the opposite direction, yand anactuator which when moved Also valve `6l will remain in onefdirection fromaa given position causes` the valve meanstogradually increaseto a.. maximum the supply-of motive'fluid to the forwardy turbine elements, and when moved in the opposi-tevdirection to` admit moti-ve: fluidf to the reversingV element.

4; An .elasticfluid turbine hav-ing elements arrangedto zdrivefthe-shaftforward, and. an element arranged to-'drive` thershaft in a reversefdirection, inI combination with inde;y pendent: controlling valve.y means for each y of the elements, an auxiliary valve for` admit-1 ting.y motivefluid tov alow pressure element of thefturbine to assist' in driving the shaft' forward, vand an actuator., for Y adjusting the valve means to admit motivefluid to the forward kelements to Y cause forward rotation of the shaft and atathe sametimeropen the auxiliary valve, and for shutting saidfvalve means and v auxiliary valve and openingA the reversing valve means .for lreversing the direction of rotationof the shaft. 5. An elastic fluidlturbine having auxil-f iary, main, and reversing,e1ementscontrol' ling valve, means 'for eachmfthe elements, aV vacuum valve for'thefl auxiliary element, anauxiliary valve admitting low pressure nio-1 tive fluid to the main-element, acheck valve between the auxiliary and mainV elements,` an actuatory for the valve means which when moved in one direction fromitsv neutral position first causes` the. valve means to admit-.motive fluid" tothe auxiliary element and also opens the. auxiliary valve, and on further movement cause thef-,valve'mea'ns to admit motive fluid to the main element and shut: it off" from the auxiliaryy element` and open the vacuum valve, and when moved in the opposite-direction-from saidposition to cause the valve. means to cut off" motive fluid fromthe main element; close the auxiliary valve and admit V'fluid to the reversingelement. v

6. An.y elastic fluid turbine. comprising., cruising, main and reversing"elements,l a valve means foreachf of: saidelements, a shaft, cranks m-ovedby the shaftffonactuating*l the valve meanswhich cranks have different angularsettings withI respecty toy eachother, and a means for turningthe shaft. l f

7. An elastic fluid. turbine having cru-isf ing, main andreversing elements, portsj for the admission ofmotive fluid to said elefments, valvefmeans-for each ofsaidfports, a rock-shaft, Acranks on the lrock-shaftZ for said valvemeans, said cranks having differenty angular settings, anoperating member, and means for transmitting motion from the operating mem'bertothe rockshaft'.

8. An elastic iuidturbine having cru-ising, main and'freversing` elements, ports for the admission of motive fluidto said: elements, valve means for each of said ports,y a shafthavingcranks thereon, means connecting the cranks with the valve means, a hand Wheel, and irreversible gearing which transmits motion from the hand Wheel to the crank shaft.

9. An elastic fluid turbine having different ports for the admission of motive fluid, valve means for each of said ports, a rockshaft, cranks carried thereby, some of Which are located below its axis and the remainder above, a reciprocating crosshead for each valve means, pins on the cranks which actuate the cross-heads, and means for rocking the shaft.

10. An elastic fluid turbine having different ports for the admission of motive fluid, a valve means for each of said ports, a supply chest which is common to all of said valve means, is supported by the turbine and has an admission conduit at one end, a cross-head, crank and pin for each valve means, a rock-shaft which is also supported by the chest and carries said cranks, and a hand Wheel and gearing for moving the shaft to cause the actuation of the valves.

11. In a governing mechanism for an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a supply chest, passages leading therefrom to the turbine, valve members in the chest, a valve stem, means on the stem for actuating the valve members successively, a crosshead attached to the stem, a shaft, a crank on the shaft having a pin which actuates the cross-head, and means for moving the shaft.

12. An elastic fluid turbine comprising a main element, a cruising element, and a reversing element, all contained in the same casing, the cruising element being separated from the main element, a 'by-pass connection leading from the cruising element to the main element and containing a cheek valve which opens when steam flows toward the main element and closes when steam tends to flow in the opposite direction, a connection between the exhaust end of the main element and the cruising element, a vacuum valve for controlling it, supply valves for the elements, a valve admitting auxiliary steam to the main element, a rockshaft, cranks on the rock-shaft for actuating the supply, vacuum and auxiliary steam valves, and an operating member for moving the rock-shaft.

13. An elastic fluid turbine comprising auxiliary main and reversing elements, a controlling valve means for each element, and an actuator for the means Which when moved to one side of a given position causes the valve means to connect the auxiliary and main elements in series with the source of supply and on further movement in the same direction to cut out the auxiliary element, and when moved in the opposite direction from said position causes the valve means to admit motive fluid to the reversing element only.

14. In combination, a cruising element, a main element, a reversing element, a separate valve means for controlling admission of motive fluid to each element, a rock-shaft, and cranks on the rock-shaft which have different angular settings and are arranged to open one or another of said valves according to the arc through which the shaft is turned.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of January, 1919.

RICHARD H. RICE.

Oopies of this patent may be obtained for ave cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of iatents.

Washington, D. C. 

